Dancing up a storm on Jamaica Night

THERE was a full moon over the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium on Thursday, but this could have gone unnoticed as it was the stars on stage at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival who shone brightest.

For the second year running, organisers went for an all-Jamaican line-up for opening night and the artistes chosen did not disappoint.

The performance of the night has to go to the ‘Reggae Ambassadors’ Third World who brought down the curtains.

Taking the stage at 2:20 am, Third World used the event as a kick-off to their 40th anniversary world tour, and delivered an entertaining set.

An exciting opener featuring a marching band would set the stage for a performance featuring all the favourites which have made this group popular - Sense of Purpose, Forbidden Love, Committed, Conscious Reggae Party, Reggae Ambassador, 96 Degrees, Magnet and Steel, Try Jah Love, Now That We Found Loveand more.

In a night of sparkling performances, Third World was not the only standout. Following closely was the duo Chaka Demus and Pliers.

The singer and deejay showed why they stamped their class on British charts back in the early 1990s.

Sounding crisp and clear, they had the ample audience dancing to hits like She Don’t’ Let Nobody, I Wanna be Your Man, Tease Me, Twist and Shout, Bam Bam and the mega hit, Murder She Wrote.

Another moment of high entertainment came from the quartet LUST, who turned the event into the reggae dance party it was billed. You’re the Inspiration, Run Free, Sweetness of Your Love, Just as I Am as well as solo hits from the members, went over well.

Cocoa Tea, the little man from Rocky Point in Clarendon, had the jazz audience eating out of his hands as he dropped a string of hits. So did ‘Mr Performer’ Ken Boothe who sang and danced into the hearts of many, his voice sounding crisp against the cool night air, belying his 50 years in the music industry.

Ernie Smith and Pluto Shervington dropped a ‘tune fi tune’ set - alternating their well-known hits from the 1970s.

Smith opened with Bend Down and Shervington followed with Dat Ting There; Smith’s Pitta Patta was answered by Shervington’s Your Honour; when Smith dropped Tears on My Pillow, Shervington answered with Ram Goat Liver; when its was time for Duppy Gunman from Smith, Shervington responded with I Man Born Yah. They would call a truce, closing with the duet That’s The Kind of People We Are.

There were two women on the line-up, Alaine and Nadine Sutherland. Sutherland would later confess to the Jamaica Observer that she was struggling with a bad case of food poisoning, but still got her audience going. Alaine warmed hearts with her set.

The dance party theme played out with deejay Admiral Bailey giving a De La Move master class during his well-received stint.

Patrons also danced through the sets of Eric Donaldson, Leroy Sibbles and Lloyd Lovindeer who closed with the hit Pocomania Day, in tribute to former Chalice singer Trevor Roper who died recently.

During the night, Ken Boothe and Third World were recognised for 50 and 40 years, respectively, in the Jamaican music industry.

(from Jamaica Observer)